Palm Harbor Elementary PTA Position
Statement
Palm Harbor Elementary PTA submits that this school board should vote NO on
closing Palm Harbor Elementary School.
We agree that, in keeping with Pinellas County School’s Vision and Mission
Statements, any decision this Board makes should provide the community with
quality education in a system that aligns all resources to assure all
children are given a chance to perform at their highest level. Although the
PTA recognizes the tough decision that the School Board needs to make, it is
hopeful that the Board carefully considers all the data before making its
decision.
Closing PHE would have a negative impact on the community. This is a school
that the community and neighborhood supports. For the past five years we
have averaged 4200 volunteer hours each year. Our PTA fully supports our
school and our children. PTA has raised enough money to build one of the
first covered courts in the county which served as a model for other
schools. We purchased a mobile computer lab, provided books for our media
center when over half of them were ruined due to mold, received grants for
books, laptop carts, document cameras, and a portable stage. We do not ask
for hand-outs, but take the initiative to provide what is needed to help our
children succeed. The children, the parents, the community and the voters
in Pinellas County do not want this school closed.
Similarly, closing PHE would have a negative effect on school programs which
have a track record of success. Our volunteer-run clubs are numerous
including a drama and chess club. We have had an “A” rating for the past 9
years. We have consistently high student achievement, with yearly gains.
Our teachers are a cohesive unit and work well with the administration of
the school.
A vote to close PHE now is premature. PTA submits that the Board has not
fully studied the enrollment and housing issue. We are not zoned properly.
The Board has held onto remnants of the “Choice” system. PHE needs for this
Board to re-draw the school zones. PTA requests that this Board not use the
zoning situation it has created against PHE or as a factor in closing the
school. Instead, this Board should be using its time to correct the zoning
issue. This would save on the cost of busing and would eliminate the cost
of leasing portables or relocatables. Prior to Choice, PHE was filled to
capacity and was in the top 15 least expensive schools.
There are alternatives the Board can choose to reap budget savings, and they
are outlined in PTA’s written Position Statement documentation.
Before closure of PHE, it would be wise to have some criteria and community
involvement on which schools to close. If the Board is keeping with the
vision statement of Pinellas County Schools, then it should be uniting with
the community to provide a quality education enabling each student to
succeed. A committee made up of a cross-section of community members should
be formed to gather the facts for the superintendent and school board to
decide as to which schools should be closed. We have many resources in our
community; let us use them to our children’s advantage.
If the Board is keeping with the mission statement of Pinellas County
schools, then it should be striving to create systems that align all
resources to ensure that each student achieves at her or his highest level.
The Board should not ignore quality and high performance of schools and just
look at the age of a building.
I think we all agree that the quality of education that our district
provides is crucial. Please remember this when making these important
decisions.
